GAA All Star urges more players – especially men – to come out as she expects first child with wife

Geraldine Doherty (37) said she believes male players are still fearful of coming out in the GAA, which she found very accepting in her own experience.

The former Meath ladies player is one of a few female selectors in the country after she took on the role with the men's team at her club, St Ultan's in Bohermeen. She was previously a selector with the ladies team in Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels.

"I always found the GAA to be so equal and so inclusive. My sexuality was never an issue. The GAA was such a safe place and it was my safe place," said the former Meath forward, who won an All-Star in 2005.

"If I was ever struggling in myself, I'd go to football training that night and all my troubles would be gone away two hours later. It really is a good place to be whatever is going on in your life.

"But I think on the male side of things, there's still a certain uncomfortable feeling around being gay. If you think of it, there are thousands of guys playing GAA, but there are no inter-county players in hurling or Gah, in my mind, who have come out. Not since Dónal Óg Cusack really.

"The referee David Gough has been a great ambassador for the LGBT community and there are a lot of ladies in the LGFA who have come out because they feel it is a very comfortable and supportive environment.

"We need a male player to come out and break that mould and get rid of any remaining stigma once and for all."

As well as her new role within the GAA, Geraldine is about to embrace another position as a mother when her wife and fellow footballer Lesley Buchanan gives birth in April.

"We are so excited. We obviously had to go through IVF, so we are so thankful and delighted. I was actually going to take a year out of football but when my old club asked me to take on this role, I couldn't say no!"